Modelling Pre-heresy/Crusade armor

[refuse]

Fill in with pictures/ideas on how to make Pre-heresy/Crusade armor.

MK I

 

MK II

 

MK III

The Mark 3 helmet was originally fixed in place on the Mark 3 armor, but in the current version of the fluff, it is a mobile helmet. Iron Warriors head #4 is a good match. The Loyal plastic Marine torso without the chest eagle can be made into a Mark 3 by green stuffing a vertical plate of armor in the center. The Iron Warriors Warsmith is good for reference.

 

Making MK III

The Iron Warriors Warsmith is wearing Mk 3 armor, but this metal mini needs so much work to look pre-heresy (and loyal) that its best to use it as reference for "current" Mk 3 armor.

 

MK IV

The Mark 4 helmet is like a beakie because of its facial protection, which are two planes of armor that cover the nose and mouth.

 

Making MK IV Iron Warriors head #3 is Mark 4 (with horns.) The Mark 4 torso had 4 cables meeting in the center of its torso (like the Mark 5) but there should be a small hexagonal unit in the center with an eagle or skull instead of the Mark 5's x-shaped unit with "air vent".

 

The metal Iron Warriors Head #3 is the best Mk 4 head I know of. Just clip off the silly horns and file the damage smooth. The plastic cabled torso is Mk 5, but it has no eagle. If your handy with green stuff, you can extend the chest armor past the waist of the cabled torso (over the cod piece), which ends up looking like a Mk 4 torso. To model older legs, you can use the kneepad-less legs, or if your up to it, carve the plastic kneepads to a flattened hexagon shape (I usually trim the top part of the tear drop like shape.)

 

 

MK V

 

Making MK V

 

 

The Mark 5 helmet was supposed to be based on the Terminator helmet, but in the current version, it seems to be a Mark 7 helmet with the "mohawk" vent on the top filled off, and studs covering the entire skull cap. The plastic Chaos Marine sprue has a Mark 5 helmet, above the cabled torso.

 

 

Post heresy, or during heresy armor

MK VI

 

MK VII

 

MK VIII

[squigsnok]

Mark IV armour a go go here with many thanks to Forge World.

 

Theres also a mkIV head and torso on the black templar sprue

 

And one of the classic mk 6's is here, but i cant find any of the other classic armour styles on the online store.

[refuse]

Thanks for those adds, I hadn't thought about the BT armor.

[refuse]

So we are all on the same page:

 

 

Mark 1 Thunder Suit

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk1.jpg

Mark 1 armor, as it would later be known, was created during the Age of Strife. When the Emperor began his conquest of Earth, his troops were equipped with gear similar to that of the techno-barbarian warriors that dominated the planet at the time. The first Space Marines were already a part of his force. And while they were given the finest quality equipment, it was really no more advanced than that of other humans on the planet. Although this armor is considered Powered Armor, it is in reality only partly powered. The main portion of the armor is contained within the torso. Under the chest plate lie synthetic fiber bundles that transmit power to the wearers upper extremities. This had the effect of increasing his fighting abilities by 300 to 400 percent. The suits legs receive no power at all, instead consisting of simple padded breeches covered with armored grieves and boots. On the Marines back, he wears a backpack which is the suits power source. Its bulk is considerable because of the necessary cooling equipment needed to keep the power unit from overheating. As you can see, Mk.1 armor is not enclosed. Life support functions were not necessary in the early days of the Imperium when fighting was restricted to Earth, Luna and Mars since all have breathable atmospheres. The thunder-bolt and lightning decoration on the chest and legs of this suit was the personal emblem of the Emperor at the time, giving it its other name - "Thunder Armor".

 

 

Mark 2 Crusade Armor

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk2.jpg

As the conquest of the Terran system began to wind down, the Emperor directed that a new, more sophisticated type of armor be designed. With the new acquisition of Mars and her advanced technology, Martian factories began production of a second type of powered armor. And with the newly installed administrators of Mars, the Adeptus Mechanicus directing efforts, the entire Space Marine Corps were rapidly re-equipped Crusade Armor (as it would later be known,) is the first fully enclosed Powered Armor. And is capable of combat in hostile environments such as space. The armor consists of a number of concentric bands which now cover the entire body and yet allow for more freedom of movement for the wearer. More efficient coolers allow the design to cover most of the chest cables, while the addition of powered leg armor necessitates the exposed cabling on the suits upper leg area. The Marine wears a backpack which looks similar to the earlier design. However it is now much more efficient and allows for the inclusion of life-support and other related functions. In addition, the new helmet design includes automated sensory devices which register audio and visual stimuli in a way that mimics hearing and sight. By buffering the sensors through a microprocessor directly to the Marines mind via a neural connector, he is able to see and hear normally. Also, the helmet allows for vision into the ultra-violet and infra-red range, and hearing into extremely high and low frequencies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark 3 Iron Armor

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk3.jpg

When the Emperor began to move his forces out toward the galactic core, not all of the planets contacted were happy with the idea of galactic re-conquest from Earth. Many of these included Squat Home worlds, where the fighting would be done in cramped tunnels or onboard spacecraft. Early fighting that consisted of a frontal assault, where cover was almost non-existent had shown a need which was filled with the Mk.3 armor. Mk.3 armor was designed with an assault role in mind, and was not intended as a replacement for Mk.2 armor. Designers simply increased the frontal armor protection of the Mk.2 and reduced the rear protection to compensate. The Helmet was also slightly reshaped, giving it a more wedge shaped front intended to deflect incoming shots

 

 

 

Mark 4 Imperial Maximus Suit

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk4.jpg

The Great Crusade lasted approximately two-hundred years. And after a time, the original armor suits manufactured on Mars began to wear out. It had been decided that a new design was needed to replace the old ones. The main design change would be from using separate armor plates to fabricating large inflexible armor casings with flexible joints. This change would allow for easier manufacture and repair with only a slight loss in flexibility. Knowledge gained from conquering innumerable worlds enabled the Tech-Priests of Mars to increase this suits protection while at the same time reduce its weight. And increased armor to the power cables allowed for the placement of the main chest and arm supplies outside the chest plate once again. New materials and recovered technology allowed for a decrease in the size and number of exposed cables. The Mk. 4 suit was designed as the ultimate type of Marine armor, and the Martian factories were dedicated to its production.

 

 

Mark 5 Heresy Armor

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk5.jpg

Space Marine Chapters were in the process of being re-equipped with the new Mk. 4 armor when the Horus Heresy began. With such a great disruption to Imperial shipping, the entire supply program was thrown into confusion. The new suits were being used equally by both sides, sometimes Loyalists in older armor would be fighting Traitor Marines who had just been given the new style armor. The Techmarines had barely gotten used to working with the new design. Many of them were not yet able to maintain it or fabricate replacements as was the original intent. Such a large scale conflict as the Heresy was not expected, and the high need for spares had not been anticipated. The new armor quickly became unusable, even with minor battle damage. This was partly caused by the fact that the new, exotic materials that were used to make the Mk. 4 were unavailable to Chapters. With this problem identified, production of Mk. 4 armor was halted and almost over-night a new suit was designed to replace it. The Mark 5 armor was designed with the battlefields of the Heresy in mind. It would use as many pre-Mk. 4 components as was possible, since all of the Loyalist Chapters still had large stock-piles of them and were familiar with their use. The chest plate is of the new style for example, but the chest, arm and leg cables are of the older design. Since the older cables were larger, they did not fit under the new chest plate and had to be placed on the exterior of the armor. These cables were to prove a major weakness in the design, which led to the addition of improvised armor plates added over them on the battlefield. One of the most noticeable features of Mk. 5 suits is its studded armor plates. This was an extra skin plate molecularly bonded to the armor as reinforcement. Due to the addition of so much weight, especially if an extra chest plate was added, the energy consumption was beyond that for which the power pack was rated. As a result, the wearer could turn up the packs power level and suffer intolerable heat, or leave the power level as it was and accept reduced performance. The helmet design is taken from the Terminator development program, which had been recently completed. It contains the same type of auto-senses as contemporary Terminator armor. Although the Mk. 5 was rushed into service, it proved to be remarkably durable and easy to fabricate and maintain. During the Heresy vast numbers of the suit were shipped out to Marine Chapters. Many of the shipments were captured by traitors for their use, as well as the scavenging of the armor from fallen enemies.

 

 

Mark 6 Corvus Armor

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk6.jpg

At the same time the Mk. 5 armor went into production, its replacement was already being designed. The Heresy suit was only intended as a stop-gap measure, and not for long term use. Although research had not been completed on the Mark 6 design, it was rushed into production as the treacherous Legions closed in on the Terran System. The development laboratories were still being disassembled when Marines began fighting in the new armor. Eventually the production factories were overrun and traitor Marines began to manufacture them as well. The Mark 6 suit, compared to it's predecessors, has a very clean appearance. This is mainly due to the once again housing the chest cabling under the armor plates. In addition, the visible chest and arm cables are duplicated inside the torso of the armor as a secondary back-up system. If the main system were damaged, this isolated set would automatically take over functionality. A distinguishing feature of the Mk. 6 suit is the studded left shoulder armor. This pad was the same as the right shoulder pad with an extra skin plate molecularly bonded to the armor as reinforcement. This was done for economical purposes, since the Marines left side would need to be better protected as he fired his weapon, the right side could be more easily replaced with slightly less effective plates. At the time, economizing in this way was necessary. After the Heresy the studded pad became associated with the Siege of Terra, and the extraordinary heroism displayed by Loyalist Marines. And so it became a traditional emblem of those days. The helmet is based on the Mk. 4 version, with suitable upgrades taken from both Terminator research and the Mk. 5 production run. Early lower leg designs consisted of a single shin/knee plate with basic joint articulation. After the Heresy, the Adeptus went back and refined the knee joint, separating the knee pad armor from the rest of the lower leg armor.

 

 

Mark 7 Eagle Armor

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk7.gif

As the final battle of Mars was underway, the Adeptus began duplicating the Martian production lines back on Earth. They realized Mars would fall to the Traitors. And so the armor development teams were transferred, with all their research, as well. From their new locale on Earth, they were able to continue the development program and incorporate their continued research into the Mark 7 armor. By the time Mars was captured Mark 7 armor was in production. Space Marines on Earth and Luna began receiving the new suits immediately. However, the Mark 6 armor was such an effective design, that both types have widespread use. Some Chapters have even chosen to continue with the older Mk 6 armor rather than adopt the Mk 7. Mark 7 Powered Armor represents a further refinement of the design started with the Mk 6. The greatest change in the armor is the new chest plastron, which was designed to encase most of the arm and chest cabling within the torso. This piece commonly bears a version of the Imperial Eagle, giving it its alternate name of Eagle Armor. The only exposed cables on the body of the armor now were those located in the abdominal area, which received heavy reinforcement. In addition, improved power usage via a redesigned back pack allowed for both shoulder pads to be replaced with larger (and uniform) pieces for increased protection. Improvements made in later Mk 6 knee joints were officially incorporated into the Mk 7 design. And the Mk 7 helmet design is based on the earlier Mk 5 helmet, however it can freely be exchanged with the Mk 6 helmet. Indeed, parts from Mk 6 and Mk 7 armor are readily interchangeable with each other.

 

 

Mark 8 Errant Armor

http://29th.emperorschildren.net/Armor/mk8.jpg

The newest Mark of powered armor seems from outward appearances to be not much more of a jump than the Mk 7 was. Mark 8 Powered Armor appears to represent further refinements of the design started with Mk's 6-7. The suit itself is a highly modified Mark 7. The addition of fixed armor plates to the torso now enclose all of the suits cables, which were most vulnerable to area effect weapons, and a new armored collar protected the helmets respirator. The addition of an armored collar also fixed the vulnerability of the neck joint. On rare occasions the chest and helmet of the older styles would act as a shell trap. Sometimes a round would hit the armor in such a way as to cause it to skim the surface of the armor upward, under the helmet and into the neck joint. The collar precipitated a change to the helmet, and unfortunately this caused a lack of backward compatibility with the earlier helmets. Mk 7 helmets could be used, however considerable modification would be required. Mark 8 armor has only seen limited production thus far, and is seen in limited numbers on the battlefields of the 41st millennium. Often, it is warn by officers or squad leaders as a symbol of rank.

[Brother Djibril]

Mk. II torsos are not too difficult to make from the plastic marine torsoes. Shave down any torso so that it's completely smooth. Then cut out the bottom half about a milimeter deep. Green stuff in two bands in this space and add bolts where appropriate. Mk. II helmets can be made by cutting down Mk. VI helmets in the front to make a wedge and carving out the slits. If you want to make it even better, add the ridge around the middle of the helmet and scrape off any extra bits on the top. Chaos topnots can add some extra authenticity.

 

Mk. IV helmets can be made by cutting down Mk. VI helmets and adding green stuff. As noted above, making the torsos and legs from the plastic Mk. V torso and kneecap legs isn't too difficult.

 

Mk. VI torsos can be made by carving down a plastic torso and adding the straps/cables with green stuff. See here.

[Vodunius]

not particularly relevant to the topic but mk8 is.. interesting: the line drawings in How To Paint Space Marines only go up to mk7, and the mk7 drawing has the armoured gut-box which prior to 3e had never appeared on anything other than mk8.. this coupled with the plastics (1x gut box + no neck ring, sgt body with neck ring but mk7 power cables, and no mk8 legs) implies that mk8 possibly no longer exists fluffwise (that is, the component parts exist but fluffwise the IoM may simply classify it as 'mk7 variant' and may not have the recent insurvice date)

 

The Mark 5 helmet was supposed to be based on the Terminator helmet, but in the current version, it seems to be a Mark 7 helmet with the "mohawk" vent on the top filled off, and studs covering the entire skull cap.

 

i'm 93% certain the fluff about the terminator helmet is based on what Termi-Nation classify the "type 3 prototype" terminator, whose helmet was basically a heavier beaky with the end of the beak chopped off so it ended in a mk7 style grille, oh and no helmet light (oh and both minis listed in catalogues specifically as MkV had mohawk vents.. infact the latter one had 3!)

[SCC]

The new FW Red Scorpions Veterans contain lots of old helmets (Mk. IV from what I can see) and torsos (again, looks like Mk.IV but could with a little work be IV/V/VI). Granted some of the pieces have RS iconography that would need removal but that shouldn't be too hard...

[Tubal]

The Red Scorpions are interesting... Mk. 4 is pre-heresy and I doubt many suits were made after mk. 6 was developed, yet the scorpions seem to have piles and piles of them lying around :D

 

... implies that mk8 possibly no longer exists fluffwise (that is, the component parts exist but fluffwise the IoM may simply classify it as 'mk7 variant' and may not have the recent insurvice date)

The mk. 8 always was a mk. 7 variant, as all the parts were interchangeable (even the helmet, with heavy modification). But then the same is true with Mk. 6 too, so go figure :unsure:

[no-use4a-name]

There's also a Mk VI chest plate on the Space Wolves Accessories Sprue. Which, imo, is one of the best Battleforces out. Here's a link to it...Space Wolves Access...only problem with it is the Wolf Tooth necklace sculpted onto it. I use it in my Crimson Fist Army to represent Ork Teeth.

[Yodhrin]

You can see my own(slightly shoddy :P) attempts to recreate heresy-era armour here, although it is specific to 13th Company and/or pre-heresy Space Wolves. This is the latest WIP of my MK2 armoured Grey Slayer pack leader, and the thread should have a WIP shot of my MK3 armoured guy later tonight.

 

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c325/Yodhrin40k/13th%20Company/WIP_Shot13.jpg

[Feral Haggis]

is there any way of getting the pictures of the preheresy/during heresy armour without having to buy the cards?

[Exquisite Evil]

Well I recently started building a Pre Heresy Wordeaters army and have been making my own versions of mk3-mk5 armour varients...

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/LLV/pre-heresy%20marines/HPIM0228.jpg

 

mk4 legs

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/LLV/pre-heresy%20marines/pics027.jpg

 

WIP torsos

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/LLV/pre-heresy%20marines/57584a50.jpg

 

Side detail mk4

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/LLV/pre-heresy%20marines/pics029.jpg

 

well you get the idea...

 

EE

[flyinghippo]

is there any way of getting the pictures of the preheresy/during heresy armour without having to buy the cards?

 

Hope this isnt breaking any rules...

 

EDIT: Link removed. In the absence of specific permission by Sabretooth to scan images, we'll follow the guidance of the company which has licensed Sabretooth, Games Workshop - no scans of images allowed. -Brother Tyler

[Tubal]

is there any way of getting the pictures of the preheresy/during heresy armour without having to buy the cards?

Buying the artbooks (they're out of print though...)

[Sian]

Well I recently started building a Pre Heresy Wordeaters army and have been making my own versions of mk3-mk5 armour varients...

 

mk4 legs

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/LLV/pre-heresy%20marines/pics027.jpg

 

well you get the idea...

 

EE

 

Is that just cut sprue or what? I'm trying to put together some mk4's (using the Red Scorpions upgrades) , but I'm dreading the kneepads. Just so small and fiddly and numerous.

 

Also, Mk4 armor has an armored codpiece plate, flat in style like the rest of the front. I think it might just be easiest to use greenstuff.

[krusade]

i'm doin it the hard way...

 

i'm using chaos warrior ( not knights ) legs and applying green stuff to make it look like shaped armour. think adeptus custode armour mixed with thunder armour.

[rabid bunny 666]

i'm doing Sons of Horus, i'll post piccys of my take on armour variants.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/rab...us/Crusade1.jpg

Crusade Armour

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/rab...0Horus/ron1.jpgIron Armour

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/rab...us/Maximus3.jpg

Maximus Armour

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/rab...rus/Heresy2.jpg

Heresy Armour

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/rab...eavyBolter1.jpg

Corvus Armour

 

Hope that helps

[refuse]

Very nice!

[Exquisite Evil]

Is that just cut sprue or what? I'm trying to put together some mk4's (using the Red Scorpions upgrades) , but I'm dreading the kneepads. Just so small and fiddly and numerous.

 

Also, Mk4 armor has an armored codpiece plate, flat in style like the rest of the front. I think it might just be easiest to use greenstuff.

 

Nope...

 

Just take an existing pair if mkVII legs and a very sharp craft knife...

 

then just carve the existing kneepads into the correct shape.

 

use GS to tidy it up, et voila!

 

officially they should have a flat codpeice, but even without it still 'says' mkiv...

[StratoKhan]

GW France has some diagrams up of the pics that REFUSE posted, they're slightly clearer and larger.

 

Link

 

Hope that helps.

[Tubal]

Link

Those are excellent and with babelfish everyone can read it. It's funny how the poor artificers are demoted to "bomb disposal experts" though ;)

[Sian]

 

Is that just cut sprue or what? I'm trying to put together some mk4's (using the Red Scorpions upgrades) , but I'm dreading the kneepads. Just so small and fiddly and numerous.

 

Also, Mk4 armor has an armored codpiece plate, flat in style like the rest of the front. I think it might just be easiest to use greenstuff.

 

Nope...

 

Just take an existing pair if mkVII legs and a very sharp craft knife...

 

then just carve the existing kneepads into the correct shape.

 

use GS to tidy it up, et voila!

 

officially they should have a flat codpeice, but even without it still 'says' mkiv...

 

 

Huh. And here I was bound and determined to use MkVI legs. Still considering that I have 8 of those laying around, I might need to anyway. neat idea with the carving! I'll give it a try.

[Brother Nihm]

Dragging this up from the pits of oblivion with a question,

 

Does anyone know of a relatively easy way to sculpt the circular vent/grate thing that is in the centre of Mark 5 chest plates?

 

Here's a link for reference: Linky

[Scar Weaver]

Anybody seen these? Brand new and really nice...

 

Perfect for pre-heresy!

 

Linky

[Durus]

Dragging this up from the pits of oblivion with a question,

 

Does anyone know of a relatively easy way to sculpt the circular vent/grate thing that is in the centre of Mark 5 chest plates?

 

Here's a link for reference: Linky

 

I'd just roll a small ball of GS, press it flat where you want it, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then press a knife's blade into the GS to create the slits. You can still push it around after that if your not happy with it.

If that's too much sculpting for you, you could try to make a pressmould of the vent on the plastic "mk8 tactical sarge torso" to reproduce it.